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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
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| Labour approves union membership reforms | Labour approves union membership reforms |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Proposals to change the link between Labour and the unions have been approved at a conference of party members by an overwhelming majority. | Proposals to change the link between Labour and the unions have been approved at a conference of party members by an overwhelming majority. |
| Leader Ed Miliband had urged a "one member, one vote" system for leadership elections and an end to the automatic affiliation of union members. | Leader Ed Miliband had urged a "one member, one vote" system for leadership elections and an end to the automatic affiliation of union members. |
| He praised the party's "courage to change" after members backed the plans by 86.29% in favour. | He praised the party's "courage to change" after members backed the plans by 86.29% in favour. |
| Unite boss Len McCluskey said union members would "rise to the challenge". | Unite boss Len McCluskey said union members would "rise to the challenge". |
| Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps dismissed Labour's reforms, insisting they still left the balance of power with the trade unions. | |
| 'Never lose touch' | 'Never lose touch' |
| Addressing the conference after the vote, Mr Miliband said members should be proud that the party had demonstrated it had the "courage to change". | Addressing the conference after the vote, Mr Miliband said members should be proud that the party had demonstrated it had the "courage to change". |
| He said he had taken a "big risk" in proposing the reforms in July, stressing: "I did not believe we could face up to the challenges the country faced if we didn't face up to the challenges faced by our party." | He said he had taken a "big risk" in proposing the reforms in July, stressing: "I did not believe we could face up to the challenges the country faced if we didn't face up to the challenges faced by our party." |
| Many British people had recently felt the Labour Party had lost touch, he said, adding: "You were right." | Many British people had recently felt the Labour Party had lost touch, he said, adding: "You were right." |
| He later tweeted: "The reason we have changed our party today is so that we never lose touch again. #OneNationPolitics" | He later tweeted: "The reason we have changed our party today is so that we never lose touch again. #OneNationPolitics" |
| Mr McCluskey told the conference the reforms would "start to take us down the road of involving more trade unionists in the business of the party". | |
| But he also fired a broadside at Mr Miliband, who called the police in to investigate the alleged rigging of a Labour candidate selection by Unite in Falkirk, which sparked the reforms that have been debated today. | |
| He repeated his assertion that "my union has done nothing wrong" and declared, to loud cheers: "This is our party and we are going nowhere." | |
| The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said it was interesting that opposition to the reforms had come from ordinary party members rather than trade unionists - perhaps underlining concern about how the changes would affect their own votes. | The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said it was interesting that opposition to the reforms had come from ordinary party members rather than trade unionists - perhaps underlining concern about how the changes would affect their own votes. |
| Earlier, Mr Miliband received a standing ovation from union members, constituency MPs and members of local parties from around the country at London's ExCel centre, as he told them to "seize" the chance to change Labour. | Earlier, Mr Miliband received a standing ovation from union members, constituency MPs and members of local parties from around the country at London's ExCel centre, as he told them to "seize" the chance to change Labour. |
| He also said the changes would attract thousands of new supporters to the party. | He also said the changes would attract thousands of new supporters to the party. |
| Breathe new life | Breathe new life |
| Historically, millions of union members have been automatically affiliated with Labour, but few take part in campaigning activities or even vote in general elections. | Historically, millions of union members have been automatically affiliated with Labour, but few take part in campaigning activities or even vote in general elections. |
| By being allowed to actively opt in to be a supporter, for a £3 fee, Mr Miliband has argued that Labour would be transformed into a genuine "mass movement" again - in contrast to the Conservatives. | By being allowed to actively opt in to be a supporter, for a £3 fee, Mr Miliband has argued that Labour would be transformed into a genuine "mass movement" again - in contrast to the Conservatives. |
| Labour leadership elections have previously been decided by a complex electoral college system, with equal weight given to the votes of three groups - one third to MPs and MEPs, one third to ordinary party members and one third to trade unionists. | Labour leadership elections have previously been decided by a complex electoral college system, with equal weight given to the votes of three groups - one third to MPs and MEPs, one third to ordinary party members and one third to trade unionists. |
| Mr Miliband won the last leadership election largely thanks to support from unions, but Unite boss Mr McCluskey said he suspected only 10% of its one million members affiliated to Labour would opt to stay in if they were asked now. | Mr Miliband won the last leadership election largely thanks to support from unions, but Unite boss Mr McCluskey said he suspected only 10% of its one million members affiliated to Labour would opt to stay in if they were asked now. |
| Members from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which is not affiliated with Labour, have been holding a demonstration against the changes outside the centre. | Members from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which is not affiliated with Labour, have been holding a demonstration against the changes outside the centre. |
| But Mr Miliband told the conference that a "one-member, one-vote" system would breathe new life into the party and complete a process started by former leader John Smith more than 30 years ago. | But Mr Miliband told the conference that a "one-member, one-vote" system would breathe new life into the party and complete a process started by former leader John Smith more than 30 years ago. |
| Mr Miliband's proposals have already led to the GMB union reducing its affiliation funding. Unite is to discuss its funding arrangements next week. | Mr Miliband's proposals have already led to the GMB union reducing its affiliation funding. Unite is to discuss its funding arrangements next week. |
| Some delegates have warned about diluting Labour's links with the unions. | Some delegates have warned about diluting Labour's links with the unions. |
| One local party member - a retired postal worker - said the changes were being foisted on the party to appease the right wing media and the Conservatives. | One local party member - a retired postal worker - said the changes were being foisted on the party to appease the right wing media and the Conservatives. |
| 'Long overdue' | 'Long overdue' |
| Labour ministers, the party's ruling National Executive Committee and the big trade unions had already expressed support for reforms. | Labour ministers, the party's ruling National Executive Committee and the big trade unions had already expressed support for reforms. |
| And former prime minister Tony Blair said Mr Miliband had shown "real courage" on the issue, which was "long overdue". | And former prime minister Tony Blair said Mr Miliband had shown "real courage" on the issue, which was "long overdue". |
| But Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps dismissed the changes as "a big victory for the unions". | |
| "Ed Miliband is left with a situation where the unions are now his political life support machine," he said. | |
| "That means all Ed Miliband offers is more spending, more borrowing and more taxes. It's the same old Labour Party." | |
| Labour grandee John Prescott welcomed the "big change" the reforms would bring. | Labour grandee John Prescott welcomed the "big change" the reforms would bring. |
| "The movement's got together, it's took a risk... That's what you expect from leaders, they look ahead and they've got the courage to make a decision. That's what Miliband did today." | "The movement's got together, it's took a risk... That's what you expect from leaders, they look ahead and they've got the courage to make a decision. That's what Miliband did today." |
| He added the party must now turn its focus to winning the next election. | He added the party must now turn its focus to winning the next election. |
| Unison general secretary Dave Prentis also urged members to move on. | Unison general secretary Dave Prentis also urged members to move on. |
| "Our money will remain, they will get our affiliation fees and we will move forward to win this election for Labour. But we want Labour to stand up for our people," he said. | "Our money will remain, they will get our affiliation fees and we will move forward to win this election for Labour. But we want Labour to stand up for our people," he said. |
| "The coalition are the real enemies, not the trade unions." |